FALL 2003 SEMINAR
"Safety & Environmental"
The Fall in British Columbia is a season characterized by a noticeable quickening of pace in everyone's lives, both business and personal. Following tradition, the BC Branch conducted its 3rd Annual Safety and Environmental Seminar in October and thanks to a good deal of hard work by Captain Andy Patterson and Captain John Lewis, some 56 members and guests were provided with a full and interesting day on a wide variety of topics.
The proceedings were begun by the Branch Chairman, Captain Stan Bowles, FNI who set the scene by reminding everyone that safety is both a culture and effective prevention and control measures at one and the same time. While the seminar would be focusing on the latter, he cautioned us all never to forget that competent and well-lead crews operating equipment were just as vital to success.
Captain Patterson, chairing the morning session, thanked the sponsors, Deas Pacific Marine, the Port of Vancouver, BC Ferry Services, Inc, The Association of Marine Surveyors of B.C., Seafire Training, Fraser Port and Marine Design Associates. Their generous support was vital in putting on these regular seminars.
He then introduced Greg Poitras of TSI, the company operating the terminals of VanTerm and Delta Port. Mr. Poitras provided a very thorough report of the major changes that have occurred in terminal security in recent months. The challenges of making a major commercial seaport a secure entity, while minimizing impact on operations are enormous and Greg made no bones about the need for total and enthusiastic cooperation from all parties involved. With the advent of the ISPS Code in 2004, there will be the added requirement for the terminals to interface with all visiting vessels' security plans, a new challenge soon to be upon us.
Through all this, the need to provide for shore leave for ships' crews remains, and the temptation to regard this as the lowest priority must be resisted, By happy coincidence, the Branch Chairman had just returned from a Marine Security Auditors course and he was able to point out that there is a great deal of pressure on IMO from the US to make Part B of the Code mandatory with Part A. Clarity on this important issue is expected by the end of the year. He concluded this item by announcing that the Branch Spring Seminar 2004, will by on the subject of Marine Security and that it will be held in Victoria.
The next speaker was Erik Christensen of SEMCO Maritime who had kindly flown in from Denmark to join us. Mr. Christensen introduced the meeting to his company’s water mist firefighting system. Based on the principles of cooling the flames, inerting the fire zone and cooling and emulsifying oil, the droplets are only 20-60 microns in diameter, allowing machinery to remain operating when exposed to the system. He reported that some 200 systems have been delivered in the last year and that two fires (one major) have been extinguished by this method within two minutes.
After an excellent lunch sponsored by the Port of Vancouver, a panel discussion took place on advances in marine firefighting As President of Seafire Training, Captain Lewis introduced the meeting to a concept new to many concerning the rating of the “speed“ of a fire. In terms of reaching a certain calorific level, fires can now be classed from 600 seconds or more (slow) to 75 seconds or less (ultra fast). Captain Lewis went on to point out that we are still working on fully understanding the nature of fire and many of the responses we have taken for granted over the years will need to be revisited in the light of recent discoveries. The Branch looks forward to more details from him in due course.
The next presentation, by Tsunami Solutions, was perhaps suited to large and remote terminals more than ships, but nonetheless fitted in well with the first subject covered in the seminar. Mr. Alan Crooks, Vice-President Sales, described “Safety Line”, a monitoring system based on cellular telephone technology and a central computer.
It seems that B.C. Gas, a major natural gas distributor, has 500 workers spread out all over the province, many working alone and in remote areas. By using a fully-automated system, the workers call in and report their location, future movements, and intended recheck time. Failure to call at the time recorded on the computer initiates a reminder and then calls to a list of responders, beginning with the worker’s immediate supervisor. The system requires no manned switchboard and can be relied upon to work with consistent efficiency 24 hours a day (no dozing in the 12 to 4 watch!).
It would seem that in these days of increasing awareness of security, a means of ensuring the safety of staff on security rounds or simply working in an isolated location is a highly desirable component of a terminal security plan.
The final speaker of the day was Brian Lockhart who delivered an informative presentation on the present state of the Marine Chemical Response Regime (MCER).
Historically, this regime has its origins in the Brander Smith Report which highlighted the deficiencies in Canada’s ability to respond to oil, chemical and dangerous goods incidents around its coast. Brian has been associated with the program for many years through the Responsible Care initiatives to which most chemical companies incorporated in their daily operational practices. It was indicated that Canada may soon be able to have an effective and efficient response regime to deal with NLS incidents through the MCER which will follow a thorough testing and education program through new certification for mariners in charge of chemical and dangerous goods and table top/live exercises.
The Seminar closed with the Chairman summarizing the day’s presentations and those responses from the floor. It was felt by all that the Seminar produced some thought provoking issues thanks to the efforts of the Seminar committee.